Marathon..first one. What to expect?

I'm just getting back into running (5k next weekend) but about 13 years and 60 lbs ago I ran the Boston Marathon in 5:11. I was on pace for about a 4:40 finish when my calves decided they'd had enough at the top of Heartbreak Hill. A fairly common occurence I'm told. Surprisingly having BC coeds massaging your legs doesn't feel nearly as good as it should after you've run 21 miles.

Boston is a notoriously difficult course with the first 17 miles trending downwards followed by four miles going up (Heartbreak Hill) and the rest trending downwards again.

My advice would be to look at the course you are running. If it's hilly, make sure you include hill training in your program. When I ran Boston we'd run the course in reverse, starting at the base of HH. We would run 8 miles then do repeats on HB hill to try to simulate running hills while tired. It helped a bit but not as much as we hoped.

I just took a look at your course. Looks like it's flat as a board, so you might want to look at doing some speed workouts as opposed to hill ones.

Good luck, and remember that when you hit mile 20 you are half-way done.

And as Fred said, do the miles. Follow the program as closely as possible. If he gives you the option to cross train, I would take it and do something that is low or no impact.

Also, I found that especially as the miles added up that I HAD to include a half hour or so of stretching at the end of my runs. Otherwise the next run was just brutal while my body worked out all the kinks. Calfs (gastro and soleus) hamstrings, quads, hip flexors, abdominals, etc. It was well worth the time.

I don't know if I'll ever do one again, but I'm glad I did it the first time.

First marathon was Chicago in 2005, I ran too much in training, and injured myself, but managed at 4:26. The whole thing was crazy and painful and awesome. I became totally addicted. Crossing the finish line of that race was one of the most memorable moments of my life. I really did hit every emotion from crazy joy to deep sorrow along the way. Distance running taught me a lot about myself and the kinds of things I can accomplish.

Now I have a plan that has be running 4 days a week.

Sunday - long run (race pace +30 seconds)
Monday- rest or active recovery
Tues- Recovery run at easy pace
Wed- hill repeats
Thurs- strength
Fri - speed or tempo run
Sat- strength

I do 3 weeks on and 1 step back week (3-4 6 mile easy runs) for 12 weeks, then I taper starting 2 -3 weeks before the race. Last marathon was a 3:23 and I'm gearing up to try for a PR of 3:15 this fall. Good Luck!

My first marathon was the 1993 Chicago marathon, ran a 3:56, it rained, it snowed, it was hot, then cold and I had no idea what I was doing. Said I would never run one again, I swore at myself for weeks, I was so sore for weeks, I had no clue what I was doing but I liked to run and decided to give it a try. I never ran more than 10 miles before that, figured, how hard can it be. My nipples were rubbed off, I was over dressed, then under dressed, any hair on my legs rubbed off, my skin was turned rash red, the clothes I wore were not meant to run 26 miles, and so on and so on.

Then, 9 years later I returned and ran the Chicago marathon again, this time better prepared, I knew how to train, I new what to wear, I followed weather reports, I conditioned my body to run distance and not rash, rub off, or blister. I ran the marathon in a 3:12, expecting a run under 3 hours, unfortunately it took 45 minutes to get to mile 5 because so many runners showed up and the streets were to crowded to run my pace up to that point, then things opened up and I ran a faster pace than planned the remaining 21 miles. I sprinted the last mile, felt strong all the way through and even did sprints in my hotel on my drive to San Diego three hours after the marathon.

Use the training bible, do the speed work, do the tempo runs, increase those long runs, own the recovery runs, do not over do it but go hard when you are suppose to. 4 months out, experiment with gels, find the right shoes, wear the right cloths and use your best training cloths for the race (they will be properly broken in). Shoes, start with new shoes at the beginning of training, if you put 400 miles on them replace them or alternate two pair of identical shoes and run the marathon in them, never run 26 miles in new shoes. Eat everything, you will earn it and need it, hydrate well, join a run club, sign up for 5k's early, then 10k's after two months, then a half marathon after three months. Do that 20 miler two to three weeks out from the marathon, then taper down each week until the big day.

Hope this helps.

If you haven't actually signed up for the Atlantic City Marathon another great first marathon is the Marine Corps Marathon (open to everyone) in Washington DC. It in the same vicinity as Atlantic City so that's why I mention it. It is held in late October also.

The course is flat (one small hill from mile 6-7) but you get to start at the Pentagon and finish at the Marine Corps Memorial. In between you get the Georgetown students cheering you on, and offering the beverage of your choice, from mile 6-8. You run behind the Jefferson Memorial at mile 13, run the length of the mall from mile 14 to 19 with fantastic views of the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and the Capital. Photographers are staioned so that you can get a great photo with the Capital in the background. The crowds on the mall are unbelievable. The last 2 miles you get a great view of the opposite side of the Pentagon. When you cross the finish line your finishers medal is presented to you by a Marine Corp Lieutenant. The organization, support before, during, and after, are nothing short of exceptional. It's also one of the least expensive races to sign up for. I've run it 3 times and it is my favorite course by far.

As for you training, Higdon's program is good. I would recommend adding some hills in the runs. It helps build up the quads and makes the getting to the finish line a little easier.

Lastly, when you've finish and people congratulate you for running 26 miles you should correct them and tell them it was 26.2. You deserve credit for every inch.

Good luck and have a great run.

Join a running group - and run our weekly long run with people that share the same pace goal. You will become fast friends with these guys. Also - follow a running plan that has you running the same amount of miles during the week as your long run on the weekend. For example - if your long run is 20 miles - then make sure you have 3-4 runs during the week that total 20 miles. I work - and I crammed all my milage on the weekend. Those that followed plans like what I decribed above had better sucess and less injuries.

Also -you will be very hungry during your training. Don't over eat.

Good luck to you!

First marathon was 2004, I ran 3:52. Like most newbies, I went out too fast early and paid the price at the end. Going out too fast is really easy, as you feel great cruising along at mile 4 or 8 or 15. Then reality sets in at mile 22...

Just train properly and run smart and you do great!

I'm running marathon #26 in a week and a half, still trying to figure out whether or not I like the distance...

I am loving these stories too. Working my way up to the same goal. Good luck!